Gois oscar jacob



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCOIS OSCAR JACOB, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

METHOD OF PRESERVING FOODS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,696, dated April 13, 1897. Application filed .Tune 24, 1896. Serial No. 596,741. (No specimens.) Patented in France July 22, 1895,1To. 249,052.

To all whom it may concern,.-

249,051) ot' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates a process for preserving solid organic alimentary substances. To preserve these matters from fermentation and decomposition, it is proposed for certain of them to make use of an acid reaction and for others of a basic or neutral reaction.

The process which forms the subject of the present invention has two well-defined or distinct phases, as will be gathered from the following description, :reference being also had to the accompanying drawing.

The first phase of the process consists in submitting the matters to be preserved to the action of carbonio anhydrid. To obtain this gas economically, two different modes may be employed: first, by the action of carbonate of lime in presence of sulfuric or hydro chloric acid according to the following equation:

second, by the reaction of bicarbonate of soda in presence of sulfuric or hydrochloric acid according to the equation These reactions are produced, the one or the other, in the apparatus represented, partlyin section, on the annexed drawing. This ap paratus consists of a cylinder A, of steel or copper, lined with lead and provided with an agitator, the rod E of which passes through a stuiiing-box and receives at its outer end a crank-handle D. This cylinderA has at the bottom C means for emptying it and at the top an opening c, closed by a pressure-screw, for the introduction, for example, of the bicarbonate of soda, and also two tubes provided with cocks G G' to carry off the carbonio-anhydrid gas produced by the reaction, as will be seen farther on. At the upper part of the cylinder is' a reservoir B, lined with lead, intended to contain the hydrochloric or sulfuric acid from which it runs into the cylinder A. An opening f, closed by a screw bung or stopper, allows for the introduction of the acid into the reservoir B. A hole F forms the connection between the reservoir B and the cylinder A. This hole F receives a conical plug which, more or less raised, permits the flow, more or less rapid, of the acid. The rod of this conical plug has at its upper part-a thread 71 which engages with a iixed threaded part and receives a rod g, which is displaced with regard to a graduated sector, fixing the amount of iiow.' A tube of lead makes connect-ion between the upper part of the cylinder A and the upper part of the reservoir B to equalize the pressure in the two vessels.

The apparatus is completed by two receivers R and R' of sheet-steel in connection, respectively, with the cylinderA by the tubes H and H', connected to the tubes G and G'. These receivers are each provided with a suitable cover, carrying a manometer and an indicator of vacuum. They possess, also, each an emptyingcock N N', a cock M M' to make the vacuum, and a cock V V', on which is screwed a ball O O', capable of resisting a considerable pressure.

The meat or organic substances are placed in the receivers R and R'. One of them can be working while the other is being charged. The cylinder A is full, say, of bicarbonate of soda and the reservoirB of hydrochloric acid. All the openings are closed and the conical plug F, which closes the hole of communication, is opened. The acid runs more or less quickly onto the soda, which is agitated by turning thehandle D to hasten the reaction. Carbonio anhydrid is thus produced which, as soon as the cocks G and G' are opened, rushes into the receivers R and R' and surrounds entirely the organic substances therein contained. The pressure is calculated according to the coefficient of resistance of the meat to the penetration and the size of the pieces to be operated upon.

lt may be here mentioned that the reaction above described does not produce pure carbonic anhydrid, but there is also produced chlorin gas in a nascent state, which gives a very pronounced ilavor to the alimentary substances contained in the receivers R and IOC R. If the meat is left in this state, the acid vapors will .quickly produce acetic fermentation and then putrefaction. comes in the second phase of the process. To destroy the effect of the acid vapors and prevent entirely the production of microorganisms in the tissue of the meat taken from the apparatus, formaldehyde (OHQO) is employed. Once the meat has been bathed in the carbonio-anhydrid, as indicated above, the cocks G and G are closed, in order to isolate the receivers R and R' from the generator A By means of the cocks M M the gas is removed from .the receivers R and R and a stout india-rubber tube is attached to the cock and connected to a suitable pump by Whicha vacuum may be produced. During this time the cocks V V are closed and the balls O O are removed, filled with a solution of one-tenth formaldehyde, (OHQOJ and then replaced. When sufcient vacuum is obtained, the cocks V V are opened, so that the liquid contained in the balls O O vaporizes instantly. To obtain a tension of vapors sufficient, the ball O may be heated in any convenient manner. It is necessary that the pressure be eoual to that of the first operation. After the meat has been treated in these vapors for about a quarter of an hour it can be taken out of the apparatus. It can then be kept in the air without any package for more than a month. It has no smell and it contains no toxic principle or anything contrary to the hygiene of alimentation.

It is here thatv It Will be understood that any suitable apparatus may be employed in carrying out my process.

Although I have hereinbefore described the treatment with formaldehyde as subsequent to that with carbonic anhydrid, I desire it to be understood that the sequence of steps may be reversed, or both treatments may be performed simultaneously. That is, according to my invention the substances to be preserved are treated with carbonic anhydrid and formaldehyde, said agents being applied either successively or simultaneously.

I claim- 1. For the preservation of meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, and all solid organic alimentary substances, the process herein described, which consists in submitting the substances successively to the action of the vapor of carbonio anhydrid and the vapor of formaldehyde under pressure.

2. The herein-described method for preserving organic alimentary substances, consisting in subjecting the substances to the action of carbonio anhydrid and formaldehyde, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRANOOIS OSCAR JACOB.

Witnesses:

Luvr FRANCKEN, CLYDE SHRorsHIRE. 

